FIL World Championships Preview: Blue Division - United States

InsideLacrosse.com's preview of the 2010 FIL World Championships continues with a breakdown of each of the teams in the Blue Division. The U.S. preview follows in advance of today's opener against the Australian National Team at 1:30 Eastern Time. The games will be available via online streaming video at www.247.tv. Click here for a roster of the U.S. National Team.

You might think all that effort would render a preview on the eve of their first game of the 2010 FIL World Championships in Manchester redundant. You’d be wrong!

The picture has started to clear itself up all over the field as rotations, expectations of playing time and roles have been solidified (it seems) over the last few weeks.

At attack, the U.S. Team’s crunchtime unit is Ryan Boyle at X, Ryan Powell on the right wing and Brendan Mundorf on the left wing. In that set, their primary looks seem to be Boyle roaming behind feeding to the middle of the field, Powell attacking from the wing looking to pass or Mundorf dodging from back left looking to get to the crease or roll back and shoot.

Working in for those guys has been Crotty at X and Drew Westervelt on the right wing. Mike Leveille has played on both wings and come out of the midfield. Kevin Leveille, an alternate, has found his area around the crease well in his time with the squad.

At the midfield, it looks like Team USA will change up lines relatively liberally, but the first line is apparently set with Paul Rabil, Max Seibald and Matt Striebel. In that line, Raibl has been the primary dodging threat, Seibald operates out top and has shown an ability to unleash from outside, and Striebel has roamed the crease in a 2-3-1.

The second midfield line has been headlined by Kyle Dixon (who bumped up to the first line for Seibald on the tying goal of the All-Star Game), while Stephen Peyser, Matt Zash, Mike Leveille and Kevin Cassese have mixed in.

As expected, the face-offs have been ably taken by Alex Smith, the shortstick wing run by Zash, Rabil or Seibald and the longstick by Kyle Sweeney and Eric Martin

The defensive midfield has been held down by Sweeney, and it appears he’ll be on the field for the lion’s share of the U.S Team’s defensive possession, with Martin splitting in (including matching up on the final possession of the All-Star Game) or taking the longstick runs when Sweeney drops to close defense. Chris Schiller appears to be the primary shortstick d-middie option, with Cassese, Zash and Peyser getting a fair amount of looks as well (although there hasn’t been a ton of fear at Seibald or Rabil being left on for a defensive shift, either).

Against the MLL All-Stars, the crunchtime defense was Ryan McClay, Shawn Nadelen and D.J. Driscoll, though that sells short how much defense Joe Cinosky has been playing for the squad. Alternates Lee Zink and Parker McKee have brought a lot of depth to the defense and played well.

In net, Brian Dougherty has solidified his position as the starter, though reports are Adam Fullerton, who left last Thursday’s All-Star Game after colliding with an opposing player head-first, is able to play if needed.

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Lacrosse History

The U.S. has won all but two FIL World Championships since the event began in 1967, most notably losing 15-10 in the 2006 Gold Medal game in London, Ont., in 2006.

Check back to InsideLacrosse.com for daily updates of the U.S. Team's pursuit of gold.